When doing research on Ms. Franklin’s musical career after her death on Aug. 16, Ms. Brown uncovered little-known facts about the icon’s jazz roots.

“In 1960, Aretha Franklin, who was 18 at the time, signed with Columbia Records and produced jazz albums with original songs as well as standards,” she said.

Ms. Franklin has strong “writing, composing and piano skills in the jazz genre.” In the early 1960s, Downbeat Magazine’s critic’s poll named Ms. Franklin best new star vocalist as she was opening for jazz greats like John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Art Blakey and Count Basie and sang with Duke Ellington.